Door check and closer



v(hlt. l, E, BOMMER DOOR CHECK ANDCLOSER Filed Jan. 4, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l 31% A Emil 22522@ M ATTORNEY- Oct. l, 1935. E BOMMER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Jan. 4, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ORNEY- INVENTOR- Oct. 1, 1935. E. BOMMER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1933 r rr r i. 1 n l l i S RMU- INVENTOR- 50722 wel" f Z7 'l y 75: 838/ $4 WZ /ew ATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Application January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,091

10 Claims.

This invention relates to door checks and closers of the type embodied in hinges for the doors, and the object of the invention is to improve generally in the construction and operation of devices of this character.

The door check and closer hinge of my present invention is intended more particularly for use in connection with lavatory and similar doors which are supported from stiles, although the invention is not coniined to this class of doors.

An object of the invention is to provide improved automatically operated mechanisms for closing and checking the closing movement of lavatory and similar doors. My improved mechanisms are ci the type employing expansile door closing springs, the expanding actions of which are opposed by suitable checking medium such as oil.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel spindle and plunger arrangement, with means whereby as the spindle rotates with the door which it supports, the plunger will be caused to move axially along the spindle; and further to provide in connection with this arrangement a valve regulated relief port by means of which to eifect a quiet and substantially silent stop of the door at its terminal or" closing movement, with the relief port and its regulating valve so located that this valve is accessible for regulation from the outside of the casing. This type of construction is regulatable so as to provide for effectually relieving shocks and strains and hence for eliminating the breaking of parts upon the plunger meeting resistance due to attempts to force the closing of the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing the escape around the spindle of checking oil to the outside of the casing while at the same time providing for the lubrication of the spindle in its bearing.

The subject matter of the present invention is also described in and certain novel features of the invention herein described, but not herein claimed, are claimed in my companion application for patent, filed May 21, 1934, Serial No. 726,752, which companion application is a division of the present application.

A further object of the invention is to provide in association with the door and the door closer and check spindle for supporting the same, an edge attaching plate or fitting so constructed and connected with said parts that the door will normally be forced to assume a properly aligned psition with respect to its stile.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

(Cl. Iii-54) the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown two more or less variant examples of the 5. invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional View through a door check and closer hinge made in accordance with one embodiment of my inven- 10 tion;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the plunger or piston; l

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the center post which supports the spindle and on which the plunger has sliding movement;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of my door check and closer hinge, and showing also in connection therewith the edge plate for connecting the Yupper portion of the hinge spindle with the door;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 'l-' of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the plunger cam;

Fig. 9 is an underneath plan view of the plunger cam;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 represents another elevational view of the plunger cam, showing the same turned to a position in which the observer can see the port 35 which leads to the tapered iiat portion of the spindle;

Fig, 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of the inner por- 40 tion of the top screw cap closure;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the screw valve and sleeve for regulating the iiow of oil through the port in the lower portion of the spindle;

Fig. 15 is a perspective View of the spindle;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spindle showing the tapering flattened region provided on the cylindrical portion thereof; v

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the edge attaching plate for the door; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view showing the opposite face of the edge attaching plate.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying 55 f2 l y 2,015,988

drawings, and first to the example illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, 2i! indicates an elongated casing which is provided longitudinally along one side with two integral leaves or plates 2l adapted to engage the opposite sides of a stile 22 entered in a bight 23 between the two plates. On being attached to the stile, this casing occupies a vertical position for the support of a swinging door of the lavatory type. rlhis casing is made with a cylindrical interior space 24 the lower end oi which is closed by a bottom closure or end piece 25 which is secured in any suitable manner liquid-tight to the casing. A top cap 26 closes the hollow 'interior at the upper end thereof, this cap for assembly and disassembly purposes being suitably screw-threaded at 21 to the casing. Y

28 denotes in general a vertically disposed spindle, the lower portion 29 of which has turning t in a socket 3d provided in the top end of a vertically disposed center post 3i, while the upper end of the spindle is journaled for rotation in a bearing 32 provided in the top screw cap closure 26. Said vertical center post 3l has a reduced Vlower portiontt which fits in an opening provided for the purpose in the bottom closure 25. This center post is a stationary element and is made fast with the bottom closure 25' by means of a screw 35 iitted in the downwardly extending nose 36 of said bottom closure and threadably engaged at 3l in an axial recess provided in the reduced portion 33. A pinch screw 3S threaded laterally through the nose 35 so as to engage a recess 3S in the reduced portion 33 may be employed as additional means whereby rigidly to secure the vertical center post with the bottom closure. Because of the provision of the reduced portion 33 on the center post, there results thereon an annular shoulder t6 which is drawn tightly against the inner face of the bottom closure when the screw 35 is tightened, this tightening Y operation, being effected prior to turning the pinch screw 38 into engagement with its seat 3S. It is in place to point out here that the screw 35 should be provided with a right-hand thread when it is to be used with a door operated from the right-hand side and with a left-hand thread if the door is to be operated from the left-hand side. If the screw is threaded in this manner to suit the operation of the door, its tendency is to tighten under the opening thrust of the door and no pinch screw or equivalent device is necessary in order to keep it from working loose.

As will be evident to those familiar with the art, a function of the spindle 28 is to support the door and to turn therewith, and in view of this function suitable ball bearings or anti-friction devices 4! are provided between the lower end of the spindle portion 29and the socket bottom in the vertical centerV post 3i, whereby to facilitate. turning of the spindle within the socket. Just above the top end of the center post, the spindle is furnished with a spirally threaded portion d2, and having, threaded engagement with the threads of this portion is a plunger element lil the lower portion of which has vertically-reciprocatory movement upon the center post Si. The center post serves as guiding means for the vertically-reciprocatory operation of the plunger, and to this end it will be seen from an inspection of Fig. that the exterior :lli oi said post is substantially of square formation, and that the interior of the plunger below its screw-threade region 45 is of a corresponding square formation at 46, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The substantially square formations of the post and plunger may include respectively flattened corners 44 and 46. By this arrangement, when the spindle is turned by the opening movement of the door,

for instance, in the direction of the arrow 41, 5 Ythe plunger will be moved vertically in a straight line, and upon the reverse turning of the spindle, which reverse movement takes place upon the Yclosing movement of the door, the plunger will move downwardly in a straight line.

A coiled expansile spring 48 is imprisoned between the head 49 of the plunger and the top screw cap 2,6. As the plunger moves upwardly during the opening of the door, this spring is compressed, so that upon the release of the door l5 for closing movement, the spring in expanding will force the plunger downwardly, thereby eiiecting reverse movement of the spindle and hence the closing movement oi the door.

As is usual with door checks and closers of this character, the downward movement of the plunger is opposed by liquid pressure, for instance, oil occupying the chamber 50 below the plunger head, the liquid pressure resisting or opposing the expanding action of the spring and thereby checking the closing movement of the door. For the relief of the oil pressure to permit theV downward movement of the plunger, there'is provided an oil passage 5I having an intake port 52 in communication with the lower 30 portion of the chamber 5U and an outlet port 53 in communication with the chamber 54 at the upper side of the plunger head. To permit theV oil tc pass from the chamber 54 at the upper side of the plunger head to the chamber at the lower 35Y side thereof during the upward movement of the plunger,I suitable one-way escape valves 55, the same being ball valves of. a well-known typeare provided in the plunger as illustrated in Fig. 4. The flow'of oil through the passage 5I is con- 40 trolled by a regulator screw valve 56 which is arranged so as to be accessible from the outside of the casing for its manipulation. This regulator valve has screw-threaded engagement with a gland nut 5l which is threaded into a cavity 45 68 so as to retain therein around the valve stem, suitable packing 59 for preventing the escape of oil.

According to an important feature of this arragement, there is provided a further relief pas- 50 sage 60 which extends transversely through the squared portion 44 of the center post adjacent the shoulder 46. One open end of this passage' is closed by a screw 6| while the opposite end thereof is normally closed by a ball valve 62, there being a coiled compression spring 6I' imprisoned between the screw 6l and ball valve 62. In communication with the passage is a vertically extending channel 63 which feeds-t0 the interstices ci" the cooperating screw-threads between the 60 f spindle and plunger, and it will be noted that this passage at its lower end is normally closed by the ball valve 62. i Said passages 60 and 63 are so arranged that the ball valve 62 is seated in a position in which it is exposed directly to fluid pres- 65 sure and so as to be moved from its seat inwardly into the passage 60 when the iluid pressure exerts force suicient to overcome the resistance of the compression spring 6l On being moved inwardly of the passage 6l), the ball valve 62 opens 70 the way for oil to pass around it into the passage 63 and thence to the spiral threads between the plunger and spindle. As the plunger moves downwardly into its lower terminal of movement, or door closing position, it crosses the intake Dort "52 and fthe ball valve 62, exposed in part 'somewhat -lower than the port 52, provides such relief `for the oil pressure as will permit the door to have a quiet and substantially silent stop. The

'provision Io'f the ball valve 62 lalso serves another purpose in that if it be attempted by manual operation to effect sudden closing movement of the door, vthe resulting-sudden resistance of the liq- -uid pressure force will overcome the opposition of fthe spring 6l so as to permit unseating of the valve 62 for the escape of oil in the passage 63.

According to yanother important feature of my invention, the top screw cap closure 26 is constructed at its inner end so as to parry the force of the oil pressure and prevent leakage to the outside of the casing. The means for this purpose consists in providing an annular channel 64 in the bearing surrounding the spindle, and further in providing a plurality of spaced ducts 65 which lead from the inner end 66 of the bearingto-said-annular channel 64. The top or outer end of the capclosure 25 is provided around the spindle with a recess 6l in which is disposed suitable packing B8 held in place by an outer seal or `gland nut 69 which is screw-threaded into the recess. Under this arrangement, the ducts 65 in connection with the annular channel 64 serve as means for parrying and thereby destroying the force of liquid pressure exerted against the bear- `ing, so that although suicient oil will seep into the crevice between the bearing and spindle for kvkeeping the spindle oiled, yet there will not be liquid pressure sufficient to force a leakage of oil ithroughthe stuffing box sealed by the gland nut.

While I `have -herein shown and described cooperating substantially square portions between the center post and plunger whereby to cause the plunger, when operated bythe screw spindle to have vertical or axial movement, it will be recfognized that inthe practice of the invention, angular guiding `forms or devices other than the lsqu'arerforms illustrated may be employed to obtain the same result. It may be remarked at this point that the screw threads between thespindle and plunger may be spiralled so as to adapt the hinge for a right-hand door, and that, on the contrary, they may be .made to adapt the hinge for use with a left-hand door. In this embodilment it will be observed that the coiled expansile spring'48, imprisonedbetween the top cap closure `and the vertically-reciprocatory plunger does not 'have a bodily rotary movement, but on the opening movement of the door is simply compressed by vthe upward travel of the plunger, and, when the opened or partially opened door is released, has a downwardly acting tension for moving the plunger downwardly against the opposing oil .pressure for effecting the closing of the door.

'The bottom closure25, ii a separate memberfas herein shown, should belmade rigid with the casing, `and the vertical central post should be secured rigidly to said bottom closure. Manifestly, thepurpose of so securing the bottom closure and center post is to preventany movement of 'these parts relatively to the casing. The protruding Iend 69 of the screw spindle `is preferably made 4in substantiallysquare form for cooperation with the door edge attaching plate of novel construction and utility, as will be explained in connecltion with the second example of my invention `now to be described.

vReferring in detail to the embodiment of Ymy invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 16, inclusive,

vit will be seen that the vertical spindle, indi- -cated generally by the `reference :character 11.0,

has its `lower Yend rotatably -tting in a socket lil provided in the bottom closurev l2, vsuitable ball bearing devices 1.3 being interposed between lthe `lower end of the spindle and the bottom 'of said socket. The opposite end of the spindley extends .':5

through the lbearing :'14 provided in `the 'top screw cap closure 15, the-said bearing 14 at its inner end being provided with ducts 16 leading lto'an inner annular channel 'l1 whereby `for `the purpose of preventing leakage, 'to .the lforce :lo of voil pressure Vas in the Lform of .the invention vhereinbefore described. .Provided `in Yfthe lower portion `of this spindle is an `axialfbore :or passage im in'which isreceived thestem I9 of a regulator larged cylindrical `portion S6, `and-at the juncture ofthe `portions 84 and 86 'there is a shoulder '81. Adjoining the shoulder 81, vthe cylindricalportion `35 is `madewith tapered faces88 of which `30 there .is .one for each 'ilat face vof the angular portionY 84. 1n communication with the passage i6 are lower and upper lateral `ports 189 `andfSIl, the rst-named being locatedadjacent the .inner face `oi? the bottom closure l2 .soas to be'covered 535 vand uncovered by asleeve 9| rotatably carried on lthe .reduc-ed inner "end portion 92 of the screw stern 1.9. sleeve 9| iturnssfreely upon the screwstemiwith IThis arrangement is such .that .the

the turning of the spindle 'and by adjusting the 140 .screw 80, fthesleeve .may Abe `used as ian instrumentality for controlling the flow of liquid from the porti89 .to the passage 18.

Arranged .to .cooperate with the .spindle v'lll fior actuation thereby Ais :a `plunger 4cam 93 `the upper 45 interior '9.3' of which islmade in a four-.sided conguration iin agreement with the four-sided .spindlepo'rtion 84, while the lower interior portion 93fhas a cylindrical form which fits onithe cyllindrical'portionSt` ofthe spindle. .As shown in Fig. 50 I0, the upper and lower interior portions .93 and 93 are separated by a shoulder 93a adaptedrto cooperate with the shoulder''i of the :spindle where- Vby vtolimit the downward movementiofthe plunger .cam upon the spindle.

`By vthis arrangement, -55 when'the spindle .is turned the plungercam turns with it while Sat the same time the .lattercan .'be moved longitudinallyy of the spindle. This `plungfer camislmade witha spiral portion 94 forming lower'and upper cam `tracks .94 and 94" both 60 Acurving spirally from a high point 95 .togatlow point '96.. .Arranged to turn on `the :lower spiral `track-94'-is alroller 91 "carried .by astem `91 on plug VSi! screw-threaded Vinto the .casing Vwall .99. A stud-|00 engages the upper spiralcam trackf94". 'B5 vsaid studbeingformed on ascrew i60 .threaded into said `wall .99. A coiled :expansile spring i6! is imprisoned :between the plunger cam93 anda collar l 02 rotatably-fitting around the-cylin- Adrically formedlbearing lll. Asuitableballibear- "l0 Ving or anti-frictiondevice E03 i-s disposed Vbetween .the collarllllZ andzinner face of '.the'top screwfcap .closure,.as shown in Fig. 6. VThelovverfend ofuthe coiledrspring .lits-in aseat .|04 provided .for Ithe purpose-betweenthespirallportioniLandiplunger T15 Below 25. the .angular portion A84, said spindle `hasanvencam body. With the parts arranged in this manner, when the spindle turns with the opening movement of the door, the plunger cam turns with it and is elevated by reason of the engagement of the roller 97 with the lower spiral track 94. Because of the provision of the rotatable collar |02, the coiled spring rotates with the plunger cam while being compressed under the elevating movement of the same.

As best shown in Figs.Y 6, 15 and 16, the cylindrical portion 86 of the spindle is provided with a tapered ilat |85 between the outer ends of the ports 89 and 90, the tapering of this flat being inwardly of the cylindrical portion toward the port 9B and terminating in one of the cut-away portions 88 adjacent the shoulder 81. The plunger cam has a port |06 which provides communication between the space resulting from the provision of the tapered Yflat and the oil pressure chamber above the plunger. The upper port 9@ Vin the spindle provides communication between the passage 78 and the space of the tapered flat when lthe plunger cam is moved upwardly from' is forced downwardly against the resistance of oil pressure in the chamber below the plunger l cam, the checking oil escapes through the port 89, passage i3, port 90, the space afforded by the taperedflat, and thence out through the port |06. Owing to the provision of the tapered flat, as the plunger cam descends, the escape of the checking oil is gradually restricted until as shown in Fig. l, the ports 89 and 90 are substantially covered at the lower terminal of movement of the plunger cam, the purpose and advantage of this entire arrangement being to provide a` quiet, silent stop for the door. By the adjustment of the regulator screw 8E) the relief of the pressure fluid can be regulated so as to make effective either relatively fast or relatively slow closing movement of the door; and it will be noted in this connection that the arrangement of partsis such that the regulator screw can be manipulated from the outside of the casing. In order, in addition to the quiet, silent stop action accomplished by this arrangement, to provide for full closure of the door, the plunger cam is furnished with a vertical bore |68 having a ball seat and port |99 -in communication Vwith the lower chamber. A

ball valve H is normally forced to this seat by a coiled spring which is imprisoned in the bore |08 between the ball valve and a screw pin |2 threaded into the to'p end of the bore. As the plunger cam reaches or is about to reach its lower terminal of movement, any excessive checking fluid pressure in the lower chamber will unseat the ball valve H and permit escape of oil into the bore |08 and thence through a very shallow port ||3 which passes by the head of the-screw 'pin H2. Another advantage results from the provision of the ball valve ||0 in this, that if the attempt be made to close the door forcibly and with a sudden jerk, this ball Valve willrbe unseated permitting pressure relief..

In the use of door checks and closers, much difficulty is experienced in closingthe door tok a positionin which it will be properly aligned with the stile upon which the door is mounted for swinging movement. kIn order automatically to effect alignment of the door with its stile, I pro- 5 Vide a novel door edge attaching plate or fixture i4. As shown in Fig. 6, this plate extends longitudinally of the door underneath the lower edge thereof and it is provided with a boss ||5 which extends equal distances from the opposite faces ||6 and of the plate. In this boss is provided a square opening ||8 of a size to snugly receive the squared upper end portion ||9 of the spindle. The novel feature of this arrangement is that the square opening ||8 is so made in the 15 boss thatY at one side of the plate, for instance the side HEB, the diametrically opposite angular corners |2 and |2| will lie at opposite sides of a vertical plane paralleling thelength of the plate to give an engaged spindle a door closing lead in the direction tending to align the door with its stile. I n Fig. 17, the diametrically opposite corners |29 and |2| are illustrated as lying in a plane |22 intersecting at an acute angle the vertical plane |23 which is parallel with the longi- 25 tudinal sides of the plate. With this side-centering of diametrically opposite corners, the door instead of standing slightly ajar, is forced ahead for alignment with its stile a distance substantially equal to that of the lead corner from the line |23. This door edge plate ||4 may be used with equal eiiiciency for either right-hand doors or left-hand doors, since, as will be evident from a comparison of Figs. 17 and 18, by inverting the c plate, the positions of the diametrically opposite corners will be reversed, bringing the trailing corner from the line |23 into the lead from said line. In the form of my device having the plunger cam 93 with spiral tracks from a high point 95 to a low point 9S, a movement of the spindle 40 through a full circle of 35E! degrees may be had without any possible injury to the actuating parts. This form of the device, therefore, may be used either in connection with single or double acting doors.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as taking certain selected forms, it will beunderstood that changes and alterations may be made in the particular forms of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the particular details set forth or to the particular forms of construction, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1*. In a door check and closer, the combination with a checking iiuid chamber, of Va stationary member, a door supporting spindle associated with the stationary member for relative turning, a spring urged plunger slidable on the member and engaged with the spindle to cause turning movement of thelatter, a valved passage in the member the valve of which is below the spindle, forming an outlet for checking fluid from the chamber, the valve in said passage being arranged to resist a certain amount of pressure exerted by the checking iiuid and to be unseated when such pressure becomes excessive.

2. In a door check and closer, the combination with a socketed stationarymember having angular form in exterior outline, of a door supporting spindle having its lower end rotatively bearing in the socket of said member and having at its upper end spiral threads, a plunger having an interior angular outline at its lower portion shaped to t said stationary member so as to slide axially thereon, and having spiral threads at its upper portion interengaging the threads of said spindle, thereby adapting the plunger to be moved axially by the rotation of the spindle, and, conversely, adapting the spindle to be rotated by the axial movement of the plunger.

3. In a door check and closer, the combination of adjoining coaxial members, comprising a stationary member and a spindle turning with respect thereto, said first member having angular form in exterior outline and said spindle having exterior spiral threads, and a plunger engaging said member and spindle, adapted to aotuate said spindle and to be actuated thereby, said plunger having part of its interior outline shaped to fit and slide on said rst member and having a spirally threaded portion interengaging with the spiral threads of said spindle.

4. In a door check and closer including a vertically disposed door supporting spindle, the combination of a vertical post in the top of which the spindle is supported for rotation, a plunger surrounding the spindle and post, spiral screw threads between the spindle and plunger, and means between the plunger and post preventing rotation of the plunger while permitting free axial movement thereof.

5. In a door check and closer including a vertically disposed door supporting spindle, the combination of a vertical post in the top of which the spindle is supported for rotation, a plunger surrounding the spindle and post, spiral screw threads between the spindle and plunger, means between the plunger and post preventing rotationof the plunger while permitting free axial movement thereof, a door closing spring acting upon the plunger, and a valve body in the post arranged to be actuated by the force of pressure fluid exerted thereon during the movement of the plunger under the door closing action of the spring.

6. A door check and closer comprising, in combination, a casing, a door supporting spindle and a stationary post supporting the same in vertical position within the casing, a plunger mounted upon the post and spindle, having spiral threaded engagement with the spindle and non-rotary axially sliding movement on the post, a top closure having a bearing for the upper portion of the spindle and formed at its inner end to carry the force of checking liquid, a door closing spring having downwardly acting tension on the plunger, a passage for checking liquid extending in the casing from the lower side of the plunger to the upper side thereof, a relief passage for checking fluid extending in the post from the lower side of the piston to the cooperating threads between the spindle and plunger, and means comprising a spring urged valve controlling the entrance of checking iluid to said relief passage.

7. A door check and closer having, in combination, a casing, a vertical door supporting spindle, a lower bearing in the casing in which the lower end of the spindle is supported and including anti-friction means on which such lower end rests for rotation, a screw top for the casing having an upper bearing for the spindle, said upper bearing having its inner end formed to carry the force of checking fluid' around the spindle, a plunger dividing the casing into lower and upper chambers and having an axial por- 5 tion surrounding the spindle, means engaging the plunger to cause it to rise toward said fluidparrying end when the spindle is given a door` opening rotation, and a relief passage for checking fluid having its inception at the lower chamber 10 and extending to a point within the area at which such axial portion surrounds the spindle.

8. In a door check and closer of the class having a door supporting spindle and a plunger which is moved against checking fluid in a chamber l5 during the door-closing rotation of the spindle, an axial portion on the plunger surrounding the spindle for an axial distance at a point remote from said chamber, said axial portion and spindle having linterengaging Contact for forcing the proper actuation of either of these parts by the actuation of the other, and means between said chamber and axial portion forming a passageway for checking fluid, said passageway having its inception at said chamber and discharging 25 at a point between said spindle and surrounding axial portion.

9. In a door check and closer of the class having a door supporting spindle and a plunger which is moved against checking fluid in a cham- 3o ber during the door-closing rotation of the spindle, an axial portion on the plunger surrounding the spindle for an axial distance at a point remote from said chamber, said axial portion and spindle having interengaging contact for forcing 35 the proper actuation of eith-er of these parts by the actuation of the other, means between said chamber and axial portion forming a passageway for checking fluid, said passageway having its inception at said chamber and discharging 40 at a point between said spindle and surrounding axial portion, and a valve in said passageway for controlling the ow of checking fluid therein, said valve being disposed adjacent said chamber.

10. A door check and closer having, in com- 45 bination, a vertical casing, a door supporting spindle vertically disposed therein, bearings for the spindle, comprising a lower bearing disposed within the lower portion of the casing and an upper bearing formed in the top cover thereof, 50 the latter being formed at its inner end and around the spindle with means for parrying checking huid, a plunger providing lower and uppper chambers within the casing and formed adjacent the upper chamber with an axial por- 55 tion having interengaging contact with the spindle for forcing proper actuation of either of these parts by the actuation of the other, a door closing spring disposed in the upper chamber and acting on the plunger, means between the lower 60 chamber and said axial portion forming a relief passageway for checking fluid from said chamber, said passageway discharging at a point of the interengaging contact between said axial portion and spindle, and a valve in said passageway 65 controlling the flow of checking fluid therein, said valve being disposed adjacent the lower chamber.

' EMIL BOMNLER. 

